Apparatus for forming end closures in paper containers



J. COYLE July 15, 1947.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING END CLOSURES IN PAPER CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 14, 1944 f VIII/4m Patented July 15, 1947 p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,423,965? I APPARATUS FOR FORMINGEND CLGSURES PAPER CONTAINERS v John Coyle, Baltimore, Md.-, -assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc.,' New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 14, 1944,.Seiial No. 518,295

-1 Claim. (01. 93 55.1)

The invention relates generally to the art of manufacturing paper containers and seeks to provide a novel apparatus for forming end closures in such containers.

When container structures are formed entirely of paper, the end closures are, of course, secured in place by an adhesive union with the body stock. In effecting these unions, the use of instantane ously setting adhesives has not proven entirely satisfactory. In the employment of vegetable, animal or mineral glues, the best results have been obtained when the surfaces to be adhered have been held together for an interval of time, say twenty or more seconds. The present invention resides in providing a novel apparatus for holding paper container body and end closure surfaces together in a manner for assuring the provision of a perfect union therebetween.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus which includes an expansible circular element insertible in the cup shaped end closure inserted in an end of a container body, and means for bringing about expansion of said element to tightly press and hold the annular Wall or skirt of the closure against the opposing wall portions of the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the expansible element comprises a rubber disk or ring-and in which there are'iincluded two presser platesopposing the ringat the upper and lower sides thereof and which are movable together to deform the rubber disk between them and cause it to expand uniformly outwardly in all directions, or apart to permit the rubber disk to relax and assume its normal condition in which it is readily insertible, into the annular wall or skirt of the end closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the plates are carried ontube structures telescopically arranged, one within the other, and in which one plate ha the face thereof which opposes the cooperating plate flared so as to form with the opposing plate a rubber disk receiving space which is wedge shaped in radial cross section thereby to facilitate the desired outward deformation of the disk when the plates are pressed together.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus of the character described a suction tube extending through the plate carrying tubes into position for engaging and supporting an end closure with its annular wall or skirt surrounding the deformable rubber disk.

Vi/ith the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the inven tion will be more fully understood by following the detailed description, the appended claim and the several views illustrated in the accompanyingdrawihgs';

in the drawings. v 7

'igur 1 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the '-open end of a paper container body and a paper end closure-about to be inserted therein. r r I Figure 2 is a vieW'si-rnilar to Figure 1 illustratin the'end closure inserted in the-container bee-y and the end closure pressing or securing apparatesnserted in the end closure prior to expan sion' thereof. 3 is a vie-w similar to Figure 2 and mustr'ates the expanded-condition of the apparatus.

In the example'of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed 5 designates a paper con-'- tain er body which may be formed lay-either con-- volute'lyor spirally winding the web stock in the mannenwe'll known in the art; A cup shaped end closure 6,:als'o formed of paper, is provided for insertion iri-an open end of the container body for eflectiiig closure thereof, and the end member may 'be die-shaped so as" to provide the annular wall or skirt-"l. The end closure 5 is inserted in the open endfof' the container bodyin the man- 'n'er-illustrated-inFigure 2 with an adhesive 8 in terposed-betweenthe outer-face of the end closure skirt 'Landthe inner face of the container body 5. The adhesive may be of any suitable type and may be applied to the external face of the skirt 1, to the internal face of the container body 5, or to both of the opposing faces of these elements.

A suction tube 9 having a suction cup I0 at the end thereof may be employed to facilitate the handling of the end closure 6 in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.

The apparatus employed to effect the desired adhesive union between the end closure 6 and the container body 5 includes a ring or disk I I formed of some deformable material, such as rubber, or a suitable substitute. The upper and lower faces of the disk or ring I I are engaged by plate members l2 and I3, the former being carried at the lower end of an inner tube I4, and the latter being carried at the lower end of an outer tube I5 telescopically surrounding said tube 14. It will be observed by reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawingsthat the suction tube 9 extends downwardly through the tubes I4, I 5 into position for 3 engaging the end closure 6 in the manner illustrated.

The upper face of the lower plate I2 is outwardly flared as at IB soas to cooperate with the opposing under surface of the upper plate IS in providing a space in which to receive the disk or ring ll, said space being wedge shaped'in' radial cross section.

The deformable disk or ring H is so dimensioned as to be readily receivable within the skirt 1 of the end closure 6 when it is in repose as illustrated in Figure 2, but it will be apparent that when the plates l2 and I3 are moved relatively so as to reduce the space therebetween, the element l I will be deformed outwardly in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 so as to exert pressure against the whole of the circumference of the end closure flange or wall portion '1. It will be obvious that the outward flaring of the upperv surface of the lower plate l2 and the resultant provision of the wedge shaped space in which the deformable element II is mounted facilitates the desired outward expansion or deformation of the element I I.

When it is desired to efiect the adhesive union between the end closure and the container body, the end of the container body is surrounded by half mold members I1 shaped to conform to the exterior of the container body 5 as illustrated in Figure 3. The apparatus in repose, in the condition illustrated in Figure 2, is then actuated to exert outward pressure against the end closure flange or wall portion 1. This is accomplished in the manner previously stated by bringing the plates I2 and I3 together in a manner for deforming, or outwardly expanding the disk or ring II in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 for tightly pressing the skirt 1 against the body-5 throughout the whole circumference thereof. The confining half mold members l'l oppose the outward pressure exerted by the deformable element II, and the pressure against, the end closure skirt is held for an interval sufficient to assure proper setting up of the adhesivdafter which the pres:

sure is released and theclosure container body is separated from the apparatus. vAn interval of twenty seconds or more may be found desirable to assure the settingnup of some forms of adhesive.

The pressing of the, closure body skirt I. and tightly holding the same against the opposing wall of the container body 5 in the manner hereinabove described. tends to force the adhesive 4 vehicle and also the adhesive into the pores of the paper container parts 5 and 1, as indicated at [8 in Figure 3, and results in the formation of an adhesive union which is so eificient as to defy separation of the parts without tearing of the paper.

It is to be understood that the details of construction of the cooperating parts can be variouslychanged without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is: 1 Apparatus for efiecting an adhesive union between 'a paper container body and a cup shaped paperclosure inserted in an end thereof and having an'outwardly directed skirt with an adhesive applied to the outer surface thereof or on the internal wall portion of the body which it opposes, said apparatus comprising, a deformable disk having an edge portion dimensioned to be freely insertible within the closure skirt when in repose, upper and lower plate members engaging at opposite faces of said disk and effective when moved relatively in a direction for reducing the space therebetween to deform the disk between them and cause it to be extended outwardly and tightly press and temporarily hold the skirt against the body throughout the whole circumference thereof, a tube member carrying one of said plates, a tube member carrying the other of said. plates, said tube members being telescopically arranged one within the other, and a suction tube extending through said tubes into position for engaging and holding the closure during insertion thereof into the body end. r

' JOHN COYLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

'UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 537,732 Great Britain July 3, 1941 

